This Show Of Shame In Rivers State House Of Assembly

I watched the fracas and mayhem that happened in the Rivers State House of Assembly on Tuesday, 9th July, 2013. The free-for-all fight was started by members of a renegade group of five seeking to impeach the speaker. Reports showed that the intention of this group looking not feasible they decided to turn it violent.

When I watched the videos, I saw adults in fisticuffs and attacking each other with weapons, the mace in this case. I also watch the leader of the renegade group addressing thugs on the shameful acts he carried out within the chambers. This dastardly act threw up many questions in the hearts of several Nigerians.

Yesterday the House of Representative invoked the constitution and took over the affairs of the Rivers State House of Assembly because of the crisis. This crisis is a culmination of the strife that has been happening over the last few months with the Rivers State government and governor. This, to watchers of event in Rivers State, has gone too far and the action by the House of Representatives seems to be a way to stop the issue from deteriorating further.

This fracas brought to mind a previous act which is still on the lips of Nigerians and also involving the governor of Rivers State. That 5 members want to take over a house of 32 members is like following a precedent of what happened when 16 people are saying they are majority over 19 others. These acts are insults to the sensibility of Nigerians and taking us for granted. It is a show of impunity that is common with our so-called leaders.

All these happening cannot be unconnected with 2015. We have spoken about that severally before now. Although others may have denied it but we believe that we are not far from the truth. We see the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob even though the mouthpieces at the top are denying it vehemently. My friend, Soni, reported that a witch cried at night and the child died in the morning and I know they will deny that again.

Another issue that came up from this incident is the question of the kind of leadership we have in this country. I asked this same question during the Nigerian Governors’ Forum. These are leaders who do not follow democratic tenets, leaders who take over system that they have no right to, leaders who are not exemplary. When I was watching the video I was wondering how these people were able to get the votes of the people to represent them and it occurred to me that maybe they stole the mandate, a la rigging, I guess.

Should Nigerians allow these kinds of things to continue to go on? Should the leadership at the top continue to behave like the ostrich by hiding its head and saying it does not see any as such it is not been seen? Should the ambition of one man or the caprices of one woman throw a state into turmoil?

Nigerians must wake up to speak against these bad leaders and bad governance. We must fight against it. We must show our dissatisfactions. We must make concerted effort to make a change come to our nation. 2015 is coming, what are you going to do to make Nigeria great again?

#2015OnMyMind

#PoliticalGabriel